From the January, 1925 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
DeWitt C. Paxson, engineer in the Erie's Buffalo yard, is another old-timer who has been doing duty quietly for a long term of years. He was born in East Hamburg, NY, February 7, 1853, of Quaker parents. His father was a farmer, and it was on the farm that he spent his early boyhood. It was known as "Mile Strip," being a strip of land one mile wide.

Through the loss of his mother and the illness of his father, he was at the age of 12 years obliged to do farm work in summer, and was permitted to attend school in winter.

When the Buffalo and Washington Railroad, now the Pennsylvania Railroad, was completed to Aurora, he found employment with a contractor in the work of extending the tracks farther, and when a strike was inaugurated, of which he did not approve or participate in, he, in company with another with whom he worked, drew their pay and departed, looking for work elsewhere, which proved to be in Canada. There he succeeded in getting employment as brakeman on the Great Western Railroad, under W.K. Muir, Superintendent. He remained there until a strike was inaugurated in the train service, when he again withdrew, getting work as a switchman at Suspension Bridge, NY on the NYC&H Railroad under Charles Carter. He stayed there until November, 1873, when he went with the Erie at that point in the same capacity, under D.H. Thomas, Roadmaster, and L.E. Babb, Agent. On November 18, 1880, he obtained a position of fireman on the Erie Railroad with (yard engineer) O.R. Sackett, later going into road service out of Buffalo, when he was called on to fire for H. Clendenning, one of the oldest engineers, who was running a train on the Falls Branch.

He was promoted to engineer May 1, 1890, which position he has filled continuously to date, with the exception of four and one-half years as supervisor, retaining his roster rights during that period, and at present is working on one of, if not the hardest positions in the Buffalo yard.

From the April, 1942 issue of Erie Railroad Magazine:
DeWitt C. Paxson, 89, retired engineer, died Feb. 26 (1942) at his home, 126 Babcock Street, Buffalo. He entered Erie service as a fireman in 1880, was promoted to engineer in 1890, and served in that capacity until he retired June 1, 1929. He was a prominent Odd Fellow and several years ago was awarded a jeweled emblem in token of his long fraternal service. He was also active in the Brotherhood of Locomotive Engineers, Div. 15, and the Erie Railroad Veterans Association. He is survived by a brother, A.B. Paxson of Devils Lake, ND.